Indiana Philanthropy Alliance

10/20/2026

IPA was pleased to connect with colleagues from across the country at the National Conference for Growing Community Foundations in Wichita.

IPA's Maddison Miller and Jasper Newton Foundation's Brienne Ho**er led Community Foundation Basics sessions, sharing practical insights on governance, fund management, charitable giving, and financial sustainability. They also connected with attendees at our booth to highlight valuable resources like the Foundations Legal Help Desk and National Community Foundation Boot Camp.

Thank you to everyone who joined our sessions, stopped by our booth, and shared ideas. We're grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside leaders committed to strengthening community philanthropy nationwide! 💪

10/19/2026

From the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute: How can inclusive leadership help philanthropy create greater opportunity and lasting community impact? 💡

This thought leadership piece from Jonathan Dunn of Lumina Foundation explores how recognizing barriers, embracing diverse perspectives, and making informed funding decisions can help grantmakers expand opportunity. He highlights the importance of working across sectors to address interconnected community challenges and ensure philanthropic investments create meaningful, lasting change.

🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/3GlJ50ZZ3bs

10/15/2026

This week, IPA's GIFT team welcomed community foundation staff and board members to Columbus, Indiana, for an opportunity to learn, connect, and build a stronger foundation for their work in philanthropy.

A special thank you to Amy Streator, Chris May, Meagan Niese, and Edie Blakeslee for sharing their expertise, experiences, and valuable insights with Indiana's newest community foundation leaders. We're grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to seeing the impact you'll make in communities across Indiana!

10/14/2026

What would it take to rebuild trust, strengthen civic culture, and bring communities together across differences? Join Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, for a free virtual book circle on Dec. 2 exploring ideas from his book, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation.

Rich notes: “I wrote this book to be a manifesto of sorts because I believe there is an urgent need to make the case that there is a better way forward. A better way that meets people where they are. A better way that is practical and doable and something that each of us can contribute to. A better way that taps into our innate desire to come together and be builders, doers, and innovators.”

🔗 Register here: https://ow.ly/BZLW50ZXLCL

10/12/2026

Property ownership can create valuable opportunities for foundations, but it also brings important legal, financial, and operational responsibilities.

Join IPA for When Foundations Own Property: Legal & Financial Stewardship Considerations, a webinar exploring the complexities of property ownership, risk management, and long-term stewardship. Whether your foundation currently owns property or is considering it, this session will provide practical insights to help you navigate important decisions and responsibilities with greater confidence.

🔗 Register here: https://ow.ly/A2CV50ZWVlt

10/07/2026

Join the Community Foundation of Hancock County for the third session in its News Navigators series to explore timely topics including media literacy, misinformation and disinformation, AI’s role in the news ecosystem, and our responsibility when sharing and creating media.

It’s a great opportunity to explore why credible local journalism is essential to healthy communities and how it helps residents become more informed, thoughtful consumers of information.

Learn more and register below 👇
https://hancock.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=8821

JOIN US!!!
📰Build practical skills for evaluating information and acting responsibly in a fast-moving, A.I.-influenced media environment.

➡️Session 3
📅Oct. 26 6:30-8 p.m.
📍971 W. US 40 | Greenfield, IN

RSVP here: https://hancock.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=8821

10/02/2026

What does a century of generosity look like?

Last night, we had the privilege of celebrating 100 years of Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana Philanthropy Alliance’s founding members and an institution whose impact reaches far beyond Muncie.

It’s hard to imagine Muncie, Indiana, or even our country without the enduring generosity of the Ball family. Their legacy is about far more than dollars invested. For generations, the Ball family and Ball Brothers Foundation have demonstrated how integrity, character, humility, and a commitment to giving back can strengthen a community and inspire others to do the same.

IPA president and CEO Angela Carr Klitzsch joined former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and former Vice President Mike Pence for a conversation facilitated by Inside INdiana Business host Gerry Dick about that legacy and the role philanthropy continues to play in Indiana’s future.

Angela reflected that Indiana has long “punched above our weight” when it comes to philanthropy. Our foundations help communities uncover solutions, test new ideas, bring people together, and work alongside government, business, nonprofits, and residents to tackle challenges no single sector can solve alone.

That spirit was evident throughout the evening. As the panelists reflected, philanthropy’s contribution isn’t only financial. It is also the example it sets: that everyone matters, that we each have something to contribute, and that we are here not simply to make a living, but to make a difference.

For 100 years, Ball Brothers Foundation has helped set that example.

Congratulations to our friends at BBF on an extraordinary milestone. Thank you for a century of leadership, generosity, and belief in the people and communities of Indiana. We are proud to count you among IPA’s founding members and look forward to all that the next century will bring.

09/29/2026

Still thinking about applying for the 2027 Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute cohort by this Friday? Hear from Katie Goodrich of Lilly Scholars Network who shares what she gained from her Mutz experience and why she encourages other rising leaders to take the leap.

If you're ready to grow your leadership, expand your network, and learn alongside leaders from across Indiana, don't wait to apply.

📅 Deadline: Oct. 2
🔗 Apply today: https://inphilanthropy.org/mutz

Know someone who belongs in the next cohort? Share this video and encourage them to apply before Friday.

09/28/2026

From the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute: What does it take to move community collaboration from good intentions to meaningful, measurable impact? 💡

This thought leadership piece from Jackie Martinez of St. Joseph Community Health Foundation explores why strong partnerships and shared goals are only the beginning. She highlights how intentional funding, dedicated capacity, and results-based frameworks can help collaborative efforts turn plans into sustained community change.

🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/6GkK50ZSlSE
➡️ Apply for the 2027 Mutz cohort: inphilanthropy.org/mutz

09/25/2026

🔍 Our community foundation training goes beyond Indiana.

IPA recently traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to host a two-day Community Foundation Boot Camp for staff, committee members, and board members at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

As president and CEO Leslie Smith shared, it was “two full days of learning, questioning, challenging assumptions, and getting even more curious about what it means to build an exceptional community foundation.”

Interested in bringing that same learning to your foundation? Our next National Community Foundation Boot Camp is coming up virtually this December, making it easy for community foundation leaders from anywhere to participate.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/x6ZY50ZRy3f